Overthinking About The Algorithm

Magical Overthinkers

Amanda Montell & Studio71

Education, Science, Society & Culture

4.3 • 636 Ratings

🗓️ 29 October 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If the algorithm knows what we want before we do… who’s really in charge? This week, host Amanda Montell(@amanda_montell) is joined by linguist, creator, and internet culture observer Adam Aleksic (@etymologynerd) to spiral deep into the invisible yet all powerful force shaping our attention, creativity, politics, and identities: The Algorithm. Why do we talk about it like it’s a god, a ghost, or an ex? Why does it shove us into hyper specific digital rabbit holes no matter how much we resist? And what happens when our digital realities start to diverge so wildly, we can’t agree on the same version of truth? Further Reading: Algospeak by Adam Aleksic - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up a hard copy of Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/magical Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/MAGICAL to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Finding the right tools for your business that not only help you out, but simplify everything, can be an absolute game changer.
0:06.3	For millions of businesses, that tool is Shopify.
0:10.0	Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all e-commerce in the U.S.
0:17.3	You just get started with your own design studio.
0:19.7	Shopify also helps you get the word out like you have a whole fancy marketing team behind you.
0:23.4	And best yet, Shopify is your commerce expert with world-class expertise.
0:27.2	If you're ready to sell, you're ready for Shopify.
0:29.3	Turn your big business idea into with Shopify on your side.
0:33.4	Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com slash magical.
0:38.4	Go to shopify.com slash magical.
0:40.6	Shopify.com slash magical.
0:43.7	Living in the information age, our brains go through a lot.
0:47.6	With all this happening to our brains, we should really give them the care that they deserve.
0:51.2	And finding the right therapist on ZocDoc is a great place to start.
1:17.2	ZocDoc can help by providing you with multiple options for therapists in your area who are in-network and ready to talk. Zocococ is a free app and website where you can search and compare all types of in-network doctors and click to instantly book an appointment. I have a dermatologist appointment coming right up and guess where I booked it. Zococ. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoc.com slash magical to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.
1:20.7	That's ZOC, doc.com slash magical.
1:23.2	Zock-D-O-C-com slash magical. Thank you. Welcome to The Magical Overthinkers podcast, a show for thought spirallers, exploring the subjects we can't stop overthinking about, from misinformation to people pleasers.
1:43.7	If you can relate to the feeling that despite
1:46.0	living in the information age, the world only seems to be making less sense, or if you
1:51.5	can connect to the idea that for some mysterious reason, it just feels especially hard to
1:56.8	exist as a human in the world right now, then you're in the right place.
2:07.4	This podcast is here to make some sense of the senseless, to help us quiet the noise in our heads for a little while,
	...

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